General Care Discussion :: wiggling legs?

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

i just noticed that when my baby RES basks he kind of wiggles his legs, it looks invouluntary because... well it just does... anyone else have this problem?

[SpotsMama]

Is it kind of jerky, sudden twiches? If so, then most turtles do some of that when they are basking. It may be an indication that they're getting too hot or it could be they are trying to shake off some dead skin.

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

no its constant, like he's trying to make circles with his legs..

[SpotsMama]

That sounds like very unusual behavior. Refresh my memory here - how long have you had him? How is his general health - is he lively and jumpy or does he want to bask or sleep all the time? How's his appetite? Is he pooping?

[Bumby's Mom]

My babies do that too but it isn't exactly circles but the little legs are constantly moving. How old is your turtle? Mine are a month old.

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

i got him at the end of JULY he is about an inch and 7/8 long so i dont know how old he is, my cousin gave him to me..... they got him in a shop ar myrtle beach, South Carolina.

he seems to be healthy only he wont eat fruits and vegetables, he is still shy of me, he swims alot but alot of times ill come back to my room and he'll be basking if i go in my room he jumps down, so most of the time i dont. yesterday i was outside and i looked through my window (his tank is right next to my window) and he was basking, luckily he was looking toward the door being awar if someone comes in but he didnt notice me and thats when i noticed his legs moving. he loves pelloets, i give him 5 a day(3 in the morning 2 at night) and every friday i give him a peice of turtle delite (dried tiny shrimp) that he loves. OOOHHHH YES he's pooping alright, stupid filter hardly sucks it up >:(

[SpotsMama]

Well his behavior sure sounds normal. Maybe moving the legs while basking is something normal that little bitty turtles do. My turtle didn't bask much when he was little (my fault, I wasn't providing the right conditions ) so I didn't get a chance to observe him. He doesn't do it now that he's grown. Perhaps some other people who have first hand experience with basking hatchlings will comment.

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

yeah, maybe.......... as i said it looks like an invouluntary movement so he might not be able to help it

[Tenodera]

Swirling movements? I've never seen that with Roca. He just does the itchy scratch leg twitch thing.

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

it might not be exactly in circles..... i might be able to video tape it and post it but he is still really shy

[SpotsMama]

If you can get a video and post it that would help a lot.

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

ill try i just dont know how :\

[marisa]

It doesn't sound abnormal to me. My RES would sometimes kind of "pulse" his arms and legs; when he got too warm, he'd twitch, start changing positions and finally go back into the water to cool down a bit.